Carey3.html

Henry C. Carey to Abraham Lincoln, January 2, 1861

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those by whom they had been elected. The

Harrison & Tyler period is the most calamitous

time of our history, & for the [principle?] reason

that no changes could be made before

1842, just in time to put the country

in order for Mr Polk. But pass the

tariff now, & you will pass it in 1862,

just in time for the democrats who

will succeed you. Had it been possible

to pass the bill of 1842 in February 1840,

Mr Polk would never have been elected.-

Your friends have now the chance of

doing this, & they will do it, if you should

insist upon it. If you do not, I doubt

greatly if it will be done.

More than three years since,

being then in Europe, I wrote Mr Buchanan

a private letter on this subject -- predicting

what would happen if he followed in

the free trade footsteps of Mr. Van Buren.

That prediction has been fully verified,

as you will see, should your leisure